TORONTO, Ont. – The McGuinty government is expected to make its second hydro rate announcement in two weeks on Tuesday.

The Liberals plan to extend the off-peak price window for hydro rates to 7 p.m. instead of 9 p.m.

Details of the plan will reportedly be announced by Energy Minister Brad Duguid.

This is an attempt to give those who use heavier power for dishwashers, laundry machines and air conditioners a price break earlier in the evening.

The change will affect about one-million people registered to a “time-of-use” plan, but will not go into affect until May 2011, just six months before the election.

Many do see the hydro rate adjustment as an attempt to stop the slide in political fortunes for the McGuinty Liberals.

The latest Ipsos Reid poll for the National Post and Global TV puts the Conservatives ahead by nine percentage points — a 13 per cent swing since the summer of 2009.